Published 4:00 am, Thursday, September 10, 1998

CALLS BY UMPIRES."

Wednesday night featured the Giants' most bizarre momentum swing of the season as they self-destructed and showed their worst side. Not only did they drop an 8-3 decision to the Padres, falling two games behind in the wild-card race, but they stood by while any semblance of self-control was tossed out the window.

Umpire Sam Holbrook submitted his report to the National League office Thursday morning, and Tavarez faces a possible suspension for bumping Holbrook during a wild eighth-inning tirade that shocked all witnesses and marked the beginning of the Giants' demise - at the time, they trailed by one run.

Holbrook called Tavarez's 3-2 pitch to Chris Gomez a ball, and Tavarez immediately slammed his glove down and charged the umpire, cussing and gesturing along the way. Holbrook held his ground, and Tavarez went at him, nose-to-nose, and eventually made contact, belly-to-belly.

"In retrospect, I should've gotten in front of him and kept him away because he bumped the umpire," Mayne said.

"But I got caught up in the spectacle of it. I was impressed. Half of me said, "Go for it. Rip him up.' "

Indeed, Holbrook had few friends on this night. The only question was which team had more complaints about the umpires - the Giants or Padres. The Padres questioned Holbrook's strike zone for Barry Bonds, disputed Jim Leyritz's strikeout (Leyritz spiked his bat and helmet) and argued ump Rich Rieker's call that Wally Joyner bobbled a throw at first base.

As for the Giants, their second-biggest stink came when Holbrook called Ruben Rivera safe at the plate despite Mayne's apparent tag. It was during the ugly eighth inning in which the Padres scored four times.

Even the fans got into it, booing Holbrook one pitch and cheering him the next.

Holbrook hadn't received this much abuse since he ejected Mark McGwire two weeks ago.

"He had a rough day," Mayne said. "I noticed it, and I played only one inning."

Tavarez insisted he never bumped Holbrook, and pitching coach Ron Perranoski agreed. When Perranoski was told that Holbrook would include in his report that there was contact, he said, "He couldn't see the whole (bleeping) game. How could he see there's contact?"

Said Holbrook: "There was contact made. I'll turn everything into the league office."

National League vice president Katy Feeney said Thursday she expected a quick ruling on the incident. "Nothing's automatic, but bumping an umpire is rather severe. It's not something you do. If it's something other than incidental, past bumpings have resulted in suspensions. If it's incidental, there's not always a suspension."

After Tavarez's ejection, the game got out of hand. The Padres moved ahead, 5-3, when Holbrook ruled that Rivera slid under Mayne's tag. Second baseman Jeff Kent fielded Steve Finley's grounder behind the mound and made a perfect throw to Mayne, seemingly in time.

"That was a great game turned bad. A close game turned into a blowout," Baker said.

It all began with Tavarez, who vowed to apologize to Holbrook (the next time they meet) as well as his teammates.

"I didn't think I bumped him. If I did, I apologize," said a teary-eyed and soft-spoken Tavarez. "I will apologize to my teammates on Friday before our next game. This has never happened to me, and I'm embarrassed for what I did. Kids were watching, and I feel bad for them. But we're in the race, and I thought I made a good pitch."

Baker said no team apologies are necessary.

"As far as I'm concerned, he doesn't have to apologize to us," Baker said. "He's human. How are you going to hold a guy's emotions in check?"